Rain may put pumpkin pie in peril, Nestle says

[Hannah Bell]

Nestle -- which sells nearly all the canned pumpkin in the U.S. -- says poor weather hurt its harvest, creating a potential shortage of its Libby's pumpkin pie products through the holidays.

Nestle is the largest national brand for canned pumpkin products, with 80 to 90 percent of the market, the company said.

It plants a special strain of pumpkin at a farm in Morton, Ill., which provides nearly all its supply. Nestle estimates if you turned all the pumpkins it grows on the farm to pie, it would total 90 million pies

The company had a wet harvest last year, too, which meant it didn't have a surplus to carry over into this year and led to spotty shortages in late summer and early fall. The harvest started in August and it began getting products on its shelves soon after, but it won't be able to meet its normal demand.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Rain-may-put-pumpkin-pie-in-apf-1323181927.html?x=0&.v=7


80-90% = 1 corporation
sourced from one farm (& no secondary emergency sourcing?)

this is the 2nd case of "shortage" i've heard of recently.

[mikelgb]

1. I think they have plenty:

http://twitpic.com/o9tg6

[sinkingfeeling]

2. OK, but why was 100% pure canned pumpkin missing from the shelves from about July till Oct. of this ...

year? I've bought a store brand for the last 5 years, going through 1 1/2 cans a week. Use it as additional fiber for diabetic dogs. There was no pumpkin on the shelves at 3 super markets nor Wal-Mart. Then, suddenly it was back in Oct. I just bought 2 dozen cans to last through 2010.

[DJ13]

3. This is what happens when our government turns a blind eye to oil manipulation

Every industry looking to raise profits sees that manufacturing a perceived shortage can raise prices.

[Hannah Bell]

4. bingo. esp. when one corp has 90% market share.

[HopeHoops]

5. Yeah bullshit - they're unloading last year's stock and fabricated the shortage.

NEXT year is when we'll have the real shortage. This year's crop is what will be on the shelves as Libby's canned crap next year. They just want to unload the surplus from last year. It is the same thing the toy industry does - "Oooh - we MIGHT not have ENOUGH of THESE pieces of shit, so you BETTER buy them NOW!"

Nestle is evil.

[kestrel91316]

6. Good cooks know the best "pumpkin" pie is made from butternut squash, anyway.

Peel, dice, and steam it, then puree it and use just like the canned stuff.

[GoCubsGo]

9. Or, sugar pumpkins...

The canned variety is actually a relative of the butternut squash, and the two can cross-pollinate. It's called the "Dickinson field squash". The little "pie" pumpkins one finds in the grocery store are another variety.

I am glad I still have some of last year's crop in the pantry. I bought it on close-out. Had I known what I know now, I'd have bought a few more cans. One of my cats loves the stuff, so I have to share it. (He likes winter squash, too.)

[gratuitous]

7. More gummint rationing!

Sure, first it was ma'am-o-graphs and Pat smears (named for the greatest first lady ever!). Then they started rationing the pumpkin pies. Where will it end, citizens? As that great philosopher Chester Cheetah said, "You have the power to end this." Arrest my case!

Bob Boudelang
taking advantage of a bathroom break at the library by
Your friendly neighborhood gratuitous

[jpak]

8. One-Pie ain't Nestle and they have lots in stock

Grew my own sugar pies this year and they will be "pied" tomorrow!

[Berry Cool]

10. Damn, and here I was

dying for a scoop of pumpkin on top of an Eggo waffle.

[Javaman]

11. Meh, I grew my own this year. nt